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Abstract:

A computer program product including a program that causes the computer
to perform operations when the computer executes the program includes
instructions to provide an engine specification interface to a user over
a web-based application, and to receive an application specification
including a three-dimensional description of application space available
to accommodate an engine and a parameter for an engine application. The
instructions include accessing an engine specification in response to the
parameter for the engine application, where the engine specification
includes a three-dimensional digital description of an engine and
specified additional hardware. The instructions include evaluating
compatibility between the engine specification and the application
specification, and providing a CAD file to the user, where the CAD file
includes the three-dimensional digital description of an engine and
specified additional hardware.

Claims:

1. A method, comprising: accessing an application specification including
a three-dimensional description of application space available to
accommodate an engine and a parameter for an engine application;
accessing an engine specification in response to the parameter for the
engine application; evaluating compatibility between the engine
specification and the application specification, wherein the evaluating
compatibility comprises evaluating that the engine specification
spatially interfaces with the application specification; and providing a
digital description of the engine to an output device based upon the
evaluating compatibility, the digital description including information
from the engine specification of a type specified by the parameter for
the engine application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the accessing the engine specification
comprises selecting an engine specification having an engine parameter
consistent with the parameter for the engine application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the evaluating compatibility further
comprises evaluating that the engine specification includes an engine
parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine application.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining a verification
status indicator in response to the evaluating that the engine
specification includes an engine parameter consistent with the parameter
for the engine application, and providing the verification status
indicator to the output device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, in response to the
verification status indicator indicating that the engine specification
does not include an engine parameter consistent with the parameter for
the engine application, providing to the output device at least one of:
at least one alternate engine specification that includes an engine
parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine application; a
list of alternate engine specifications that each include an engine
parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine application; at
least one engine specification that is at least partially compatible with
the application specification; and an application specification
adjustment wherein an engine specification is available that is
compatible with the application specification adjustment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a list of
compatible engine specifications in response to the application
specification, and providing the list of compatible engine specifications
to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine specification includes a
three-dimensional digital description of an engine and additional
hardware, and wherein the evaluating compatibility includes comparing the
three-dimensional digital description of the engine and additional
hardware to the three-dimensional description of the application space
available.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing an engine
specification interface to a user over a web-based application,
generating the engine specification in response to user interaction
through the engine specification interface, and providing the
three-dimensional digital description of the engine and additional
hardware to the output device as a computer-aided design (CAD) file.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising marking at least one
parameter for the engine application with a value selected from the
values consisting of required, desired, maximize, and minimize.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the evaluating compatibility is
further in response to the at least one marked application parameter.

12. An apparatus, comprising: an application specification module
structured to interpret an application specification comprising a
three-dimensional description of application space available to
accommodate an engine and a parameter for an engine application; a
preliminary engine specification module structured to interpret an engine
specification comprising at least one engine parameter and a
three-dimensional digital description of an engine and specified
additional hardware; an installation verification module structured to
verify a compatibility between the application specification and the
engine specification; and a verified engine specification module
structured to provide the three-dimensional digital description of the
engine and the specified additional hardware to an output device.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one engine
parameter comprises at least one parameter selected from the parameters
consisting of a torque rating, a torque rating corresponding to a
selected gear ratio, a horsepower rating, an electrical system rating, an
emissions rating, a weight value, a geometric dimension, a fuel type, an
oil change interval requirement, an aftertreatment system description, an
electrical interface requirement, a datalink communication requirement, a
maintenance interval requirement, an electronic feature description, a
warranty description, a cost value, an availability indicator, a
transmission compatibility indicator, a geographic compatibility
indicator, and a maximum engine speed rating.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a
prioritization module structured to mark the parameter for the engine
application with a value selected from the values consisting of required,
desired, maximize, and minimize; and wherein the installation
verification module is further structured to verify the compatibility in
response to the at least one marked parameter for the engine application.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an external
communication module structured to provide an engine specification
interface to a user over a web-based application and to receive a user
interaction through the engine specification interface, wherein the
preliminary engine specification module is further structured to
interpret the engine specification in response to the user interaction,
and wherein the verified engine specification module is further
structured to provide a computer-aided design (CAD) file to the user,
wherein the CAD file comprises the three-dimensional digital description
of the engine and the specified additional hardware.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the installation verification
module is further structured to determine a verification status indicator
indicating whether the engine specification is compatible with the
parameter for the engine application, and wherein the verified engine
specification module is further structured to provide the verification
status indicator to the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the verified engine specification
module, in response to the verification status indicator indicating that
the engine parameter is not compatible with the parameter for the engine
application, is further structured to provide at least one of: at least
one engine specification that is compatible with the parameter for the
engine application; a list of engine specifications that are compatible
with the parameter for the engine application; at least one engine
specification that is at least partially compatible with the application
specification; and an application specification adjustment wherein an
engine specification is available that is compatible with the application
specification adjustment.

19. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium
having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program
when executed on a computer causes the computer to: provide an engine
specification interface to a user over a web-based application; receive a
user interaction through the engine specification interface, wherein the
user interaction communicates an application specification comprising a
three-dimensional description of application space available to
accommodate an engine and a parameter for an engine application; access
an engine specification in response to the parameter for the engine
application, the engine specification comprising a three-dimensional
digital description of an engine and specified additional hardware;
evaluate compatibility between the engine specification and the
application specification, wherein the evaluating compatibility comprises
comparing the three-dimensional digital description of the engine and
additional hardware to the three-dimensional description of the
application space available; and provide a computer-aided design (CAD)
file to the user, wherein the CAD file comprises the three-dimensional
digital description of the engine and the specified additional hardware.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer
readable program when executed on the computer further causes the
computer to evaluate compatibility by evaluating whether the engine
specification includes an engine parameter consistent with the parameter
for the engine application.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the computer
readable program when executed on the computer further causes the
computer to mark the parameter for the engine application with a value
selected from the values consisting of required, desired, maximize, and
minimize, and evaluate compatibility further in response to the marked
parameter for the engine application.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer
readable program when executed on the computer further causes the
computer to determine a list of compatible engine specifications in
response to the evaluating, and provide the list of compatible engine
specifications to the user.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer
readable program when executed on the computer further causes the
computer to determine a verification status indicator in response to the
evaluating, and to provide the verification status indicator to the user.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the computer
readable program when executed on the computer further causes the
computer to provide at least one of: at least one engine specification
that is compatible with the application specification; a list of engine
specifications that are compatible with the application specification; at
least one engine specification that is at least partially compatible with
the application specification; and an application specification
adjustment wherein an engine specification is available that is
compatible with the application specification adjustment.

Description:

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to, and claims the benefit of, U.S.
Provisional Patent Application 61/346,627 entitled "SYSTEM, METHOD, AND
APPARATUS FOR ENGINE INSTALLATION INTEGRATION", filed on May 20, 2010,
which is incorporated herein by reference in the entirety for all
purposes.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present application relates to integrating engine installation
information, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to
providing rapid and configurable engine integration information to a
customer. A particular engine platform as utilized by a customer may
include multiple options for power ratings, hardware, emissions
components, and related devices that create literally thousands of
potential footprint and interface concerns for installing the engine into
a final application. Currently available processes for specifying an
engine can take many hours spread across multiple business days, and
require input from multiple people in different areas of expertise
introducing the possibility of miscommunication and delay. Accordingly,
there is a demand for further improvements relating to engine
installation integration.

SUMMARY

[0003] One embodiment is a unique method for determining customer engine
requirements and delivering integration information to a customer.
Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and
benefits shall become apparent from the following description and
drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0004]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for providing an engine
specification to a customer.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a processing subsystem for
providing an engine specification to a customer.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a procedure for providing an
engine specification to a customer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0009] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of
the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated
in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.
It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the
invention is thereby intended, and any alterations and further
modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and any further
applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as
would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates are contemplated and protected.

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 100 for providing an
engine specification to a customer. The system 100 includes a user-side
network 110 in communication with an engine specification provider
network 112, with the networks in communication over a wide-area network
114 such as the internet. The system 100 further includes a computer 102
and a storage system 104 on the engine specification provider network 112
side. In one embodiment, the system 100 includes computers 116, 118 in
communication with the storage system 104, and operators 120, 122 or
other input mechanisms (not shown) provide supporting information to the
storage system 104 to further operations of the computer 102 in providing
engine specifications to the user 108. The user 108 may be a customer
communicating with the user-side network 110 through a computer 106.

[0011] The system 100 is illustrated as an exemplary schematic diagram of
relationships. Particular embodiments of the system 100 may utilize
various computers instead of or in addition to computers 102, 106, 116,
118 in other configurations, and data may be stored in various storage
systems instead of or in addition to storage system 104 and/or generated
in real-time during operations of the system 100.

[0012] One exemplary illustration of operations of system 100 includes the
user 108 providing an application specification to the computer 102 by
entering communications into a computer 106. The application
specification includes information about an application (not shown) in
which an engine (not shown) will be utilized, and can include any
information that may be of interest to a user of an engine. For example,
and without limitation, the application specification may include a power
rating (e.g. kw or hp), a torque rating, a displacement, a desired
electronic feature of the engine (e.g. cruise control or a torque
management feature), an engine oil change interval, or other information
specifying requirements or parameters for a given application of an
engine. The user 108 may further select an engine specification from a
menu of engine specifications provided by the computer 102, or the
computer 102 may determine an engine specification according to defaults,
estimates, or preliminary parsing of the application specification.

[0013] Various parameters of the application specification may be marked
with an indicator such as, but not limited to, required, desired,
maximize, or minimize. For example, a parameter horsepower rating may be
entered as "450 hp" marked required, and "fuel economy" marked to
maximize. In the example, the computer 102 provides one or more engine
specifications having the horsepower rating requirement (if possible) and
having a maximum available fuel economy rating from available engine
specifications.

[0014] The computer 102 may access engine specification information
pre-loaded onto the storage system 104, which may be provided by the
computers 116, 118 and operators 120, 122. For example, computer 116 may
provide technical information about engines (e.g. power ratings, torque
ratings) and computer 118 may provide computer-aided design (CAD)
drawings, and the first operator 120 may be an engineer and the second
operator 122 may be a draftsperson. Of course, computers 116, 118 and
operators 120, 122 are simply exemplary and multiple engineers, drafters,
salespersons, manufacturing personnel, and additional or alternate
operators and computers may be utilized to provide information to the
storage system 104. Additionally, the storage system 104 and computer 102
may be distributed and/or networked devices, and information may be
generated or updated during the operation of the system 100 rather than
or in addition to being stored. In one example, the CAD drawing is
generated at run-time according to the selected engine and selected
features and options.

[0015] The engine specification includes any information relevant to
particular engine designs that may be of interest to the user 108 or to
matching the application specification. For example, and without
limitation, the engine specification includes technical ratings of the
engine (e.g., power, torque, oil capacity), electronic features available
on the engine, cost information for the engine, the availability and/or
inventory of the engine, warranty information about the engine, and a
three-dimensional CAD drawing (or digitally stored equivalent) of the
engine and certain specified hardware (e.g. turbocharger, aftertreatment
components, grid heater elements) related to the engine. The
three-dimensional CAD drawing of the engine and/or specified hardware
related to the engine may be dependent upon certain aspects of the engine
as specified, and may be determined at run-time. For example, the
specific horsepower rating of an engine may indicate a change in a
turbocharger or other hardware component of the engine, changing the
physical footprint and CAD information of the engine and specified
hardware.

[0016] The computer 102 may execute program operations or be otherwise
configured to perform multiple functions. For example, in the exemplary
system 100, the computer 102 compares the application specification to
the engine specification to determine if the specifications are
compatible. In various additional embodiments, the computer 102 may
determine a list of engine specifications that are compatible, determine
one or more engine specifications that are partially compatible with the
application specification, determine an adjustment to the application
specification and provide one or more engine specifications that are
compatible with the adjusted application specification. The computer 102
then provides the user 108 with at least a part of the engine
specification(s) that are compatible or partially compatible with the
application specification or the adjusted application specification. The
computer 102 includes a three-dimensional description of the engine and
specified hardware, potentially including the CAD drawing file, all or a
portion of which can be provided to the user 108. The computer 102 may
include the three-dimensional description of the engine and specified
hardware in response to a user 108 input, for example the user 108
selecting an engine specification from a list of compatible (or partially
compatible) engine specifications.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the computer 102 accepts markings on one or
more parameters of the application specification, including whether
various parameters are desired, required, or should be minimized or
maximized. For example, the application specification may include a
parameter of a 325 kilowatt (kw) +/-10% power requirement and a second
parameter to maximize the torque value. In the present example, the
computer returns an engine specification, including the CAD drawing, for
the engine specification on the storage system 104 within the power
requirement having the highest available torque. For example, if two
engines are available, the first having a rating of 325 kw and 1500
newton-meters (nm), and a second engine having a rating of 345 kw and
1600 nm, the computer 102 returns the engine specification information
for the second engine having a rating of 345 kw and 1600 nm.

[0018] In another example, the user 108 may select engine specifications
from a menu according to an application specification known by the user
108, and therefore the compatibility of the application specification and
the engine specification may be provided on the user-side network 110 in
certain embodiments. The operations of the exemplary system 100 allow a
remote user 108 to quickly verify an engine specification for a given
application, and to immediately receive a CAD drawing and other interface
information about the selected engine with the features and options
selected by the user 108.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a processing subsystem 200
for providing an engine specification to a customer. The processing
subsystem 200 includes a controller, that may be a part of a computer 102
or that may be a distributed device. The controller includes modules
configured to provide multiple functionalities relating to providing the
engine specification to the end user as well as providing other
functionalities. The computer 102, in certain embodiments, communicates
with the user 108 utilizing a web-based application that provides menus,
selections, defaults, and/or other interface elements to allow the user
108 to provide an application specification to the computer 102.

[0020] The exemplary embodiments described herein may include a number of
modules providing a number of functionalities. A module may be
implemented as operations by software, hardware or a combination thereof,
or at least partially performed by a user or operator. In certain
embodiments, modules represent software elements as a computer program
encoded on a computer readable medium, wherein a computer performs the
described operations when executing the computer program. A module may be
a single device, distributed across devices, and/or a module may be
grouped in whole or part with other modules or devices. The operations of
any module may be performed wholly or partially in hardware, software, or
by other modules. The presented organization of the modules is exemplary
only, and other organizations, configurations and arrangements are
contemplated.

[0021] Certain operations described herein include operations to interpret
one or more parameters. Interpreting, as utilized herein, includes
receiving values by any method known in the art, including at least
receiving values from a datalink or network communication, receiving an
electronic signal (e.g. a voltage, frequency, current, or PWM signal)
indicative of the value, receiving a software parameter indicative of the
value, reading the value from a memory location on a computer readable
medium, receiving the value as a run-time parameter by any means known in
the art, and/or by receiving a value by which the interpreted parameter
can be calculated, and/or by referencing a default value that is
interpreted to be the parameter value.

[0024] The application specification 214, in certain embodiments, further
includes a three-dimensional description of an interface portion 216, or
a three-dimensional description of application space available to
accommodate an engine. The application specification 214 includes
information supplied by the user 108, or supplied by the application
specification module 202 according to estimates or defaults, describing
required or desired features of an engine to be utilized in an
application.

[0025] The preliminary engine specification module 204 interprets an
engine specification 218 including at least one engine parameter and a
three-dimensional digital description 220 of an engine and specified
additional hardware. The preliminary engine specification module 204
determines the engine specification 218 according to selections by the
user 108, according to preliminary parsing of the application
specification 214, and/or according to estimates or defaults. For
example, the application specification 214 may include a power rating and
other information, and the preliminary engine specification module 204
determines the engine specification 218 is according to the power rating
from available engine specifications on the storage device 104. In
certain embodiments, the preliminary engine specification module 204
interprets the engine specification 218 according to user interactions
230, and the engine specification 218 may include specifications for
multiple engines.

[0026] The installation verification module 206 evaluates a compatibility
between the at least one engine parameter of the engine specification 218
and the parameter(s) for the engine application from the application
specification 214. In one example, the application specification 214
includes application parameters for a power rating, a torque rating, and
a geometric dimension of the engine (e.g. a maximum height, length, width
and/or other dimension(s)), and the installation verification module 206
determines from the engine specification 218 whether the engine
parameters meet the criteria of the application parameters. The
application specification 214 can include multiple specifiable parameters
for an engine, including without limitation, the type and compositions of
ancillary parts, coolant ratings, speed ratings, electronic or other
features, warranty data, types of fuel, lubricant, or maintenance parts,
maintenance intervals, color of the engine or components, emissions
ratings or performance, aftertreatment components, supported engine duty
cycle, and engine durability information.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the installation verification module 206
further evaluates the compatibility between the application specification
214 and the engine specification 218 by comparing the three-dimensional
description of application space available to accommodate the engine and
the three-dimensional digital description of the engine and specified
additional hardware. In one example, where a collision detection
algorithm determines the engine and specified hardware can be positioned
within the application space available, the engine specification 218 and
application specification 214 are evaluated to be compatible.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the prioritization module 210 determines
values for marked parameters 224 from the application specification 214,
and the installation verification module 206 further verifies the
compatibility of the engine specification 218 with the application
specification 214 in response to the marked parameter(s) 224. The marked
parameter(s) 224 include prioritization descriptions such as required,
desired, maximize, and/or minimize. Any number of parameters from the
application specification 214 may be marked, including none of the
parameters or all of the parameters.

[0029] The verified engine specification module 208 provides the
three-dimensional digital description 220 of the engine and the specified
additional hardware to an output device. The output device may be a
computer screen, a printer, or a digital medium such as a network
communication link or a storage device. In one example, the verified
engine specification module 208 provides the three-dimensional digital
description 220 of the engine and the specified additional hardware to an
external communication module 212, which provides a computer-aided design
(CAD) file 232 to the user 108.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the external communication module 212
provides an engine specification interface 228 to a user over a web-based
application 226 and receives a user interaction 230 through the engine
specification interface 228. The preliminary engine specification module
204 generates the engine specification 218 in response to the user
interaction 230, and the verified engine specification module 208 further
provides a computer-aided design (CAD) file to the user. The CAD file
includes the three-dimensional digital description 220 of the engine and
the specified additional hardware. In certain embodiments, the
installation verification module 206 determines a verification status
indicator 222 indicating whether the at least one engine parameter is
compatible with the at least one application parameter, and the verified
engine specification module 208 provides the verification status
indicator 222 to the user.

[0031] In one example, the verification status indicator 222 indicates
that at least one engine parameter of the engine specification 218 is not
compatible with at least one application parameter of the application
specification 214. In response, the verified engine specification module
208 provides at least one compatible engine specification 234 (i.e., that
is compatible with the application specification 214), a list of
compatible engine specifications 234, a partially compatible engine
specification 236, and/or an application specification adjustment 238
wherein an engine specification 218 is available that is compatible with
the application specification adjustment 238.

[0032] For example, the application specification 214 may have a power
rating of 350 kw, a torque rating of 1750 nm, and a rated engine speed of
2800 rpm. The preliminary engine specification module 204 may reference
the closest available engine specifications 218, and the installation
verification module 206 provides a compatible engine specification 234
and/or a list of compatible engine specifications 234. In response to the
installation verification module 206 determining that no available engine
specification 218 is compatible, the verified engine specification module
208 may provide a list of one or more partially compatible engine
specifications 236 (e.g., an engine specification 218 having 350 kw, a
torque rating of 1650 nm, and a rated engine speed of 2500 rpm is
partially compatible, and/or an application specific adjustment 238. For
example, where a first engine specification is available meeting the
power and torque ratings, and a second engine specification is available
meeting the power and rated speed ratings, the verified engine
specification module 208 determines a first application specific
adjustment 238 to meet the rated speed of the first engine specification
and a second application specific adjustment 238 to meet the rated torque
of the second engine specification.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the external communication module 212
provides the CAD file three dimensional descriptions 232 of any engine
specification provided to the user 108, or may provide CAD file three
dimensional descriptions 232 of any user-selected engine specifications
from the specifications 234, 236 provided to the user 108. In certain
embodiments, the external communication module 212 provides prompts and
information to the user 108 such that the user can select an engine
specification 234, 236, and/or select an application specification
adjustment 238 to adopt from the provided application specification
adjustments 238.

[0035] The external communication module 212 receives the application
specification 214 over a network 110. The application specification 214
may include some, all, or none of the presented application parameters,
and may include some parameters not illustrated in FIG. 3. Further, the
external communication module 212 may populate the application
specification 214 with default values in some instances, and may allow
some values to remain blank. The external communication module 212 may
allow any type of input from the web-based application 226, including
selections from a list, free entry of data, downloading of formatted
files, and other types of input methods.

[0037] The preliminary engine specification module 204 retrieves engine
specifications 218 from a data store 104 according to the application
specification 214. The rules for determining which engine specifications
218 to retrieve are specified in advance, or assigned by the user 108 or
an operator 120, 122. For example, the preliminary engine specification
module 204 may pull any engine specification 218 that meets the
application specification 214 criteria or that meets certain criteria
such as torque rating 402 or power rating 406 or engine displacement (not
shown). The preliminary engine specification module 204 may pull any
engine specification 218 that is closest to the application specification
214 in one or more important criteria. The rules for determining which
engine specifications 218 to retrieve may be further determined according
to how many engine specifications 218 appear to be available, for example
relaxing the criteria where few engine specifications 218 appear to be
available, and tightening the criteria where many engine specifications
218 appear to be available. Further, the rules for determining which
engine specifications 218 to retrieve may be further determined according
to the marked parameters 224 provided by the prioritization module 210.

[0038] The verified engine specification module 208 then determines the
verification status indicator 222 according to the application
specification 214 and the engine specification(s) 218, determining
whether one or more compatible or partially compatible engine
specification(s) 234, 236 are available. The determination of which
engine specifications 218 are compatible or partially compatible may be
further determined according to the marked parameters 224 provided by the
prioritization module 210. For example, a marked parameter 224 may be
determined to be more important or weighted more heavily than other
parameters, may be listed as desired but optional, and/or may be listed
as a parameter to be maximized, minimized, or held as closely as possible
to a certain value, but not to be determined as incompatible based on a
specific value.

[0039] For example, two marked parameters 224 may be an application torque
rating 302 and an application power rating 306, where the application
torque rating 302 is to be maximized and the application power rating 306
is to be between 300 and 350 kw. In a further example, if three engine
specifications 218 are available, having torque ratings 402 of 1500,
1400, and 1600 nm respectively, and power ratings 406 of 300, 340, and
360 kw respectively, the verified engine specification module 208
provides a compatible engine specification 234 of the engine
specification 218 having a torque rating 402 of 1500 nm and a power
rating of 300 kw. In another example, certain parameters of the
application specification 214 may be marked parameters 224 for purposes
of determining partial compatibility. In the example, an application
emissions rating 310 may be marked as a requirement such that an engine
specification 218 that does not meet the application emissions rating 310
is not available as a partially compatible engine specification 236, but
the application torque rating 302 may be marked such that an engine
specification 218 that does not meet the application torque rating 302 is
available as a partially compatible engine specification 236.

[0040] The schematic flow diagram in FIG. 5, and the related descriptions
which follow, are illustrative embodiments of a technique for engine
installation integration. Operations illustrated are understood to be
exemplary only, and operations may be combined or divided, and added or
removed, as well as re-ordered in whole or part, unless explicitly stated
to the contrary. The technique 500 may be implemented by one or more
computer(s) executing one or more computer program(s) stored on a
computer accessible medium. The computer program(s) comprises
instructions causing the computer to execute one or more of the
operations of the technique 500. In certain embodiments the computer
program(s) may be comprised of modules, such as those described herein.

[0041] The technique 500 includes an operation 502 to provide an engine
specification interface to a user and an operation 504 to receive a user
interaction. The technique 500 further includes an operation 506 to
interpret an application specification, which may be at least partially
provided by the user interaction, and an operation 508 to generate an
engine specification in response to the application specification. The
technique 500 further includes an operation 510 to mark at least one
parameter of the application specification. The technique 500 further
includes an operation 512 to determine if the engine specification(s) are
compatible with the application specification. The operation 512 to
determine if the engine specification(s) are compatible may be dependent
upon the marked parameter(s) of the application specification. The
technique 500 further includes, in response to the operation 512
determining there is not a compatible engine specification, an operation
520 to determine whether an engine specification is available that is
compatible that has not been checked. For example, the operation 520 can
be an operation to notify the preliminary engine specification module 204
to relax screening criteria and check additional specifications, an
operation to query an operator 120, 122 whether an engine specification
is available that is not yet stored on the data store 104, or any other
operation to check engine specifications that were not checked in the
operation 512. The technique 500 further includes an operation 522 to
determine whether an engine specification is available that is partially
compatible with the application specification 214 and an operation 524 to
determine an application specification adjustment 238 and provide the
compatible engine specifications, partially compatible engine
specifications, and application specification adjustments to the user.

[0042] The technique 500 further includes, in response to the operation
512 determining there is a compatible engine specification, an operation
514 to set a verification status indicator to TRUE, an operation 516 to
determine a list of compatible engine specifications, and an operation
518 to provide the compatible engine specifications and the verification
status indicator to the user.

[0043] As is evident from the figures and text presented above, a variety
of embodiments according to the present invention is contemplated.

[0044] An exemplary set of embodiments is a method including accessing an
application specification including a three-dimensional description of
application space available to accommodate an engine and a parameter for
an engine application; accessing an engine specification in response to
the parameter for the engine application; evaluating compatibility
between the engine specification and the application specification, where
the evaluating the compatibility includes evaluating that the engine
specification spatially interfaces with the application specification;
and providing a digital description of the engine to an output device
based upon the evaluating compatibility, the digital description
including information from the engine specification of the type specified
by the parameter for the engine application.

[0045] An exemplary method further includes the parameter for the engine
application including one or more of the parameters selected from an
application torque rating, an application torque rating corresponding to
a selected gear ratio, an application horsepower rating, an application
electrical system rating, an application emissions rating, an application
engine weight value, an application engine geometric dimension, an
application fuel type, an application oil change interval requirement, an
application aftertreatment system description, an application electrical
interface requirement, an application datalink communication requirement,
an application maintenance interval requirement, an application
electronic feature description, an application warranty description, an
application cost value, an application availability indicator, an
application transmission compatibility indicator, an application
geographic compatibility indicator, and/or an application maximum engine
speed rating.

[0046] In certain further embodiments, the method includes accessing the
engine specification by selecting an engine specification having an
engine parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine
application. An exemplary method includes evaluating compatibility by
evaluating that the engine specification includes an engine parameter
consistent with the parameter for the engine application. A further
exemplary method includes determining a verification status indicator in
response to the evaluating that the engine specification includes an
engine parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine
application, and providing the verification status indicator to the
output device. A still further exemplary method includes in response to
the verification status indicator indicating that the engine
specification does not include an engine parameter consistent with the
parameter for the engine application, providing to the output device at
least one of: at least one alternate engine specification that includes
an engine parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine
application; a list of alternate engine specifications that each include
an engine parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine
application; at least one engine specification that is at least partially
compatible with the application specification; and an application
specification adjustment wherein an engine specification is available
that is compatible with the application specification adjustment.

[0047] In certain embodiments, the method includes determining a list of
compatible engine specifications in response to the application
specification, and providing the list of compatible engine specifications
to the user. An exemplary method includes the engine specification having
a three-dimensional digital description of an engine and additional
hardware, where the evaluating compatibility includes comparing the
three-dimensional digital description of the engine and additional
hardware to the three-dimensional description of the application space
available. A further exemplary method includes providing an engine
specification interface to a user over a web-based application,
generating the engine specification in response to user interaction
through the engine specification interface, and providing the
three-dimensional digital description of the engine and additional
hardware to the output device as a computer-aided design (CAD) file.

[0048] Another exemplary method includes marking at least one parameter
for the engine application with a value selected from the values
consisting of: required, desired, maximize, and minimize. In certain
embodiments, the method further includes evaluating compatibility further
in response to the marked application parameter(s).

[0049] Another exemplary embodiment is an apparatus including a processing
subsystem having a controller. The controller includes modules structured
to functionally execute operations for providing a verified engine
specification. The exemplary controller includes an application
specification module, a preliminary engine specification module, an
installation verification module, a verified engine specification module,
a prioritization module, and/or an external communication module. The
application specification module interprets an application specification
including a three-dimensional description of application space available
to accommodate an engine and a parameter for an engine application. The
preliminary engine specification module interprets an engine
specification including at least one engine parameter and a
three-dimensional digital description of an engine and specified
additional hardware. The installation verification module verifies a
compatibility between the application specification and the engine
specification, and the verified engine specification module provides the
three-dimensional digital description of the engine and the specified
additional hardware to an output device.

[0051] In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a prioritization
module that marks at least one parameter for the engine application with
a value selected from required, desired, maximize, and/or minimize. The
installation verification module verifies the compatibility further in
response to the marked parameter(s). An exemplary apparatus further
includes an external communication module that provides an engine
specification interface to a user over a web-based application, and
receives a user interaction through the engine specification interface.
The preliminary engine specification module interprets the engine
specification in response to the user interaction, and the verified
engine specification module further provides a computer-aided design
(CAD) file to the user. The CAD file includes the three-dimensional
digital description of the engine and the specified additional hardware.

[0052] In certain further embodiments, the installation verification
module determines a verification status indicator indicating whether the
engine specification is compatible with the parameter for the engine
application. The verified engine specification module further provides
the verification status to the user. A further embodiment includes, in
response to the verification status indicator indicating that the engine
parameter is not compatible with the parameter for the engine
application, the verified engine specification module providing: at least
one engine specification that is compatible with the application
specification; a list of engine specifications that are compatible with
the application specification; at least one engine specification that is
at least partially compatible with the application specification; and/or
an application specification adjustment wherein an engine specification
is available that is compatible with the application specification
adjustment.

[0053] Yet another exemplary set of embodiments is a computer program
product including a computer useable medium having a computer readable
program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a
computer causes the computer to provide an engine specification interface
to a user over a web-based application and receive a user interaction
through the engine specification interface, where the user interaction
communicates an application specification comprising a three-dimensional
description of application space available to accommodate an engine and a
parameter for an engine application. The instructions further cause the
computer to access an engine specification in response to the parameter
for the engine application, where the engine specification includes a
three-dimensional digital description of an engine and specified
additional hardware, and to evaluate compatibility between the engine
specification and the application specification. The evaluating
compatibility includes comparing the three-dimensional digital
description of the engine and additional hardware to the
three-dimensional description of the application space available. The
instructions further cause the computer to provide a computer-aided
design (CAD) file to the user, wherein the CAD file comprises the
three-dimensional digital description of the engine and the specified
additional hardware.

[0054] In certain further embodiments, the computer readable program when
executed on the computer further causes the computer to evaluate
compatibility by evaluating whether the engine specification includes an
engine parameter consistent with the parameter for the engine
application. Additionally or alternatively, the computer readable program
when executed on the computer further causes the computer to mark the
parameter for the engine application with a value selected from the
values consisting of required, desired, maximize, and minimize, and to
evaluate compatibility further in response to the marked parameter for
the engine application.

[0055] An exemplary computer readable program when executed on the
computer further causes the computer to determine a list of compatible
engine specifications in response to the evaluating, and provide the list
of compatible engine specifications to the user. Another exemplary
computer readable program when executed on the computer further causes
the computer to determine a verification status indicator in response to
the evaluating, and to provide the verification status indicator to the
user. In certain embodiments, the exemplary computer readable program
when executed on the computer further causes the computer to provide at
least one of: at least one engine specification that is compatible with
the application specification, a list of engine specifications that are
compatible with the application specification, at least one engine
specification that is at least partially compatible with the application
specification, and/or an application specification adjustment wherein an
engine specification is available that is compatible with the application
specification adjustment.

[0056] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in
the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as
illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that
only certain exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and that
all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the
inventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood that
while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more
preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so
described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and
embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of
the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In
reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at
least one," or "at least one portion" are used there is no intention to
limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the
contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a
portion" is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item
unless specifically stated to the contrary.